Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-21
ROYAL HUNTING IN PERSIA.


The Shah After Big Game, Such as
Wild Asses, Tigers and Anteiopes.
The shah is mighty hunter o good
shot and an enthusiastic sportsman. Big
game is his delight. The king, like all
the sportsmen Of his country, uses a
smooth bore and bullet. OF course,
royal hunts are TO certain extent
battues
A strange incident of eastern life, but
true one, occurred some twelve years ago
at one of these royal huntings. As usual,
couple of regiments accompanied the
shah on his hunting party. The men
acted as beaters. A tiger was wounded,
and was making off under the kings
eyes The royal second barrel was dis
charged, but did not kill the wounded
animal. Fearful of losing his quarry, the
king was reloading tlnuzzle leaders are
still preferred by Persians), when pri-
vate soldier seized the tiger by the tail
and detained him long enough for the
shah to dispatch the animal. His mai
esty made that soldier a captain on the
spot.
Wild asses-the favorite chase of the
old Persians. who shot them from the sad
die with arrows-are hunted with relays
of dogs. The only time TO shoot them is
when the young are at the mothers heel.
So swift and timid are they that it is i'm
possible to get any but a chance shot at
them under any other circumstances. The
young asses are often taken with grey
hounds The mothers are shot from the
saddle; for Persian sportsman, though
he never shoots flying for fear Of wasting
his charge is a very good shot from the
saddle. and will often kill antelope or other
game when going at full speed. The
secret of success in shooting from the sad.
die is that the marksman's horse should
be going ventre a terre. The flesh of the
young ass is food for kings. Antelope,
save when with young at their heel, are
seldom secured by single dog, but are
easily run down by relays Of greyhounds
or shot from the saddle by posted horse
men, the antelope being driven toward,
them by greyhounds.
Hawking is favorite pastime in Persia,
Every great parsonage has his falconel
and his falconry; every little squireen hi:
partridge hawks and pair of greyhounds
A Persian turns out at early dawn anC
lies in ambush behind rock for partridge:
which come to drink in the morning al
some spring At the right moment he fire:
both barrels into them, and kills or wound:
many; six or eight brace is no uncommon
bag for the two shots of the shikari ii,
then runs up and cuts their throats t
make them lawful though many are al
ready dead, and walks home, having dont
good days work For six brace Of birds
he will get about two shillings
Watar foul ara crpt in fba Eap1p nm
| Sportsmanlike manner The villager
| hidden behind low wall built for tht
| purpose, fires into pack of them. Quai
which gives splendid sport in the higl
wheat, literally rising in hundreds-ar'
usually netted; bamboo call being uset
| to attract them. This call initiates &C
| curately enough the challenge Of the NAL,
bird, and the cock quail, the most pug
nacious of birds, never refuses chal
| lenge. The doraj is shot in the noun
tains. and, as it only runs, is an easy vic
| tim. 1t weighs often four pounds, is gra,
in color, and exquisite eating. 1t is, how
! ever, rarely obtained, as it affects higl
and inaccessible rocks.
| Wild geese are shot either in the flock q
night or In the daytime by stalking: fo
wild geese, If they do not see the gun
may be approached with ease. The dou
BILE snipe is well known, though not oftel
seen in Europe, it is about twice the siz
of our bird, and makes a most delicat
dish WoodcOck are numerous Hare
and antelope partridges, quail ant
pigeons are hawked; while the two forme
are also coursed. and so is the hubar
(bustard) The sand grouse or bagh-a
| syh1Il1a which rrnrJ fairly I.nI1rasapts if
cry, is an easy prey. The flock of fron
six to a dozen birds is seen in the opel
plain. The sportsman approaches yer
leisurely df on horseback he may get {
within thirty yards; he then blazes int
the middle of the pack, while on tn
ground, with both barrels, and ofte
makes a good bag. Food is what h
wants, not sport-St James Gazette.